January 17, 2021 Happy Birthday Greetings This Week: Thirty Third Sunday after Pentecost January 17: Ann Trombulak, January 23: Judy Dzumba Sunday of Zacchaeus, Feast of our Venerable Father Anthony of Egypt Wedding Anniversaries this Week: None for the week Please Pray For Our Sick and Shut-ins HOME – Eileen Batcha, Rebecca Dickun, Marianne Dove, Jean Herdt, Rebecca Hutcheon, Kevin Joray, Mary Ann Jugan, Neil Jugan, Mary Salamon, John Simunick SAINT GEORGE BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH Hunter’s Care Home (1916 Main St, Aliquippa, PA 15001) – Mary Poiarkoff Beaver Elder Care (616 Golf Course Road, Aliquippa, PA 15001) – Josephine Maruhnich Fighting the Good Fight with Faith Epistle Readers – Jan. 17: Louisa Hersh – Jan. 24: JoAnn Hersh Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever! ~ Slava Isusu Christu! Slava Na Viki! Ushers – Stand in as needed Propers for this Sunday: See the handout Troica Holders – Jan. 17: F. Hersh – Jan. 24: R. Mudron Divine Services for the Week: THIS WEEK’S SANCTUARY LAMP January 17 - 23, 2021 SUN., JAN. 17 THIRTY THIRD SUNDAY after PENTECOST Burns before the real presence of our Lord for: SUNDAY of ZACCHAEUS, + Rose Valiga FEAST of our VENERABLE FATHER ANTHONY of EGYPT (In loving memory) 8:30 A.M. DIVINE LITURGY Offered By: For the Parishioners Butch & Judy Dzumba SUN., JAN. 24 SUNDAY of the PUBLICAN and PHARISEE 8:30 A.M. DIVINE LITURGY Parish Offerings for January 10, 2021 Offertory …….…….........................................................................................................…………................ $290.00 +Lori Foister Loose Currency ……………………………………………………………………………………………… $25.00 Candles ...….…….…..….………………..…......................…...…..…...………….……................................. $85.50 Do you desire Christ? Children ………………..…………………………………………………………………..……….…..…..….. $4.00 This Sunday marks the first of five Sundays before the beginning of the Great Fast in preparation Holy Day ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… $65.00 for the celebration of Holy Week and Pascha. The Gospel lesson for today is clear: everything Initial ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. $30.00 Christmas ………………………..………..………………………………………………...…….….…..…... $95.00 begins with the desire to see Jesus Christ. Zacchaeus, the rich tax collector, desired to see Jesus so Fuel ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. $20.00 much that he even climbed a sycamore tree to get a good view, not worrying about what others Total: $614.50 thought of him. Jesus saw him, called him down and visited his house. Zacchaeus then acknowledged his sinfulness and voluntarily offered to give half of what he had to the poor and four Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel: Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our times what he had taken from anyone by false accusation. The joy of the occasion is evidenced in protection against the malice and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do Christ's words: "Today salvation has come to this house... for the Son of Man has come to seek and thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits to save that which was lost." Zacchaeus' desire to see Jesus led to his salvation. who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen. ECF Reflection, Sunday of Zacchaeus A Note from Father Geoff: Today the church, through the proclamation of the Gospel, reminds us that the Lord sees and values things in a way that the world cannot understand. Oftentimes, what the world sees as strength is a Each year, from January 18-25, Christians of many different churches and communities all around pitfall for those who seek the Lord; and what the world sees as weakness is an opportunity for the world observe what has come to be known as The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This spiritual growth. observance began in 1908 as the “Octave” of Prayer for Christian Unity, observed by the Graymoor Zacchaeus, "small of stature" and despised by the Jews becomes the one who sees the Lord and Friars, a group of Franciscans who had come into the Latin Catholic Church having previously been welcomes him into his home. Why? The Fathers of the church tell us that Zacchaeus was able to see an Episcopalian religious order. the Lord, not because the Sycamore tree, but because he set aside the self-righteousness of the world and the stature of honor and worldly dignity. By becoming “small” and humble of heart, by opening Those Christians who are outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church are, nonetheless, his eyes to the Lord's Vision, Zacchaeus was able to rise above those around him to behold the Lord and welcome him into his home. By going to Zacchaeus’ house, Jesus confirmed for all that truly our sisters and brothers in Christ. The Council Fathers of Vatican II stated that, “Men [and Zacchaeus had already made it home for the Lord in his heart. women] who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in some, though imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church.” They taught that there are significant differences in doctrine Throughout the Gospel those who are apparently weak become strong, the blind become able to see, and practice, at varying levels, between the Catholic Church and our “separated brethren,” which the paralytics walk again, and this strength and healing is found in one thing: that the Lord has made constitute obstacles to full, visible unity. “But even in spite of them it remains true that all who have himself present within them, that he comes into “our house,” and for that we must “make haste” to been justified by faith in baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called come down to meet him. Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers [and sisters] by the children of the Catholic Challenge questions: Church.” Their liturgical actions “most certainly can truly engender a life of grace, and, one must 1. How should a Christian judge himself differently than the world judges him? say, can aptly give access to the communion of salvation.” (Unitatis Redintegratio, 3) 2. Why was Zacchaeus’ his willingness to climb up the tree a way in which we can see the It grieves God’s fatherly heart that his children have been divided. Jesus prayed for all those who humility of his heart? would come to believe through his disciples, “that they all may be one.” During this week, let us in an intentional way lift up in prayer our non-Catholic brothers and sisters, that God would draw them 3. Why did those around Zacchaeus despise his wealth while Jesus saw it as an opportunity and us both closer to himself and, in doing so, draw us closer together. Here’s a good prayer you for his salvation? might want to incorporate into your rule for this week: O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of peace: Give us A Prayer to the Theotokos for Life By John Paul II grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers that we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and O Mary, bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living, to you do we entrust the cause of concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, life. Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of whose lives are made difficult, of men and women who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly one soul, united in one holy body of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love to the people of our time. In addition to this prayer, I encourage you to take sometime this week to meditate on one or more of the following passages of Scripture: John 17:20-23; Ephesians 2:13-22; Ephesians 4:1-6; 2 Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with Corinthians 5:16-18; Revelation 5:6-10. gratitude throughout their lives and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build, together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love, to the praise and glory of Yours in our one Lord, one Faith, and one Baptism, God, the Creator and lover of life. Amen. Fr. Geoff Our venerable father Anthony the Great January 17 Zacchaeus the Tax Collector Saint Anthony, the Father of monks, was born in Egypt in 251 of pious What happened to Zacchaeus after Our Lord left Jericho? Did he parents who departed this life while he was yet young. On hearing the follow Christ to Jerusalem? Did he witness the Triumphal Entry words of the Gospel: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast, into Jerusalem? Was Zacchaeus amongst those who witnessed the and give to the poor” (Matt. 19:21), he immediately put it into action. crucifixion? Was he one of the 120 on the day of Pentecost, or Distributing to the poor all he had, and fleeing from all the turmoil of the maybe part of the crowd Peter preached to? Listening to the world, he departed to the desert. The manifold temptations he endured Gospel reading from St. Luke 19:1-10 we can certainly see this continually for the span of twenty years are incredible.